I want to thank Kimjuni2, DJNS, Kelev, and A711owner for their reviews. Thanks to an insanely tight schedule, I simply didn't have the time to do much character planning, let alone writing, over the last little while. That was the main reason behind a delay of nearly a month between chapters. But nonetheless, this is the next character we'll explore: Aang's mentor and surrogate parent, Monk Gyatso. I had to admit that Gyatso was a late addition to my original list of characters to do, and part of the reason I included him was due to Kelev mentioning she wanted to see something on Aang's guardian in my story. So Kelev, this chapter is dedicated to you, hopefully it's enjoyable!
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
A huge crowd gathered at the entrance to the Southern Air Temple, looking to the sky for a small spot weaving in and out of the mountains. I was among the air benders gathered here, waiting to see our visitor from a faraway land. Like most air temples, the Southern Air Temple was located in an isolated mountain range at the edge of the world. For our case, it was the Patola Mountain Range. The only way to reach it was by flying, and this was possible by all the monks here with our Sky Bison. But now, knowing there was another flight being made into the temple, I couldn't help but stare into the skies.
"Look! It's crossing the last peaks, and coming straight in!" Someone yelled, pointing to the scarf-like clouds draped over the mountaintops. A few days ago, a messenger hawk delivered a letter from the Fire Sages, the religious authority in the Fire Nation, to their Air Nomad counterparts, the Council of Elders. They were informing us that a special individual would be joining us for air bending training. Since the religious figures of each respective nation served the interests of the world, they weren't entirely bound by their citizenship. It wasn't unusual to see our Council of Elders cooperate with Fire Sages or the Earth Clerics. And it definitely wasn't surprising to see our elders here, welcoming the most important figure in the entire world. "He's landing anytime now."
Before long, the dark dot became more apparent, as the serpent-like form of a large dragon snaked its way across the sky. I could only watch in wonder and awe as this beautiful creature raced its way toward us. It was so different than our method of flying: the Sky Bison. Unlike the lumbering movements of a bison, the dragon was so gracious and effortless, almost like it was meant to be in the sky more than air benders. I squinted hard, trying to block out the sun as my eyes focused in on the rider. Despite the fact that he was just a silhouette, I could make out a tall and lean figure, with flowing robes and an unusual looking head piece. Air Nomads were known to have their heads shaved, so it was uncommon for me to see head gear of any sort, let alone those from the Fire Nation.
Finally, the Council of Elders exited the temple. The five elderly monks that we revered marched slowly to the centre of the hallway. Immediately, some of the older monks signalled to the younger ones to stand to the side, creating an open area for the dragon to land. I was pressed into several other young air benders around me, making it difficult to see beyond the sea of bald heads and yellow and orange tunics. The five elders did an ancient spiritual welcoming ritual, saluting the human incarnation of the spirit of the world. "It is our honour to welcome the next Avatar: Roku of the Fire Nation!" they announced proudly, each bowing as the dragon made its final approach.
As we all observed the amazing scene before us, the sleek creature slid to a perfect halt before the monks. Most of us stared on in wonder and awe at the rider, who finally dismounted and stepped onto the stone ground. I got a good look at him, and realized that he was only a teenager, barely older than me. He stood straight and tall, making his lean frame even leaner as he surveyed the scene with calm but curious gold eyes. Despite his attempt to remain collected and dignified, I could tell that he was really nervous. I guessed that being from the Fire Nation he was used to warm weather, so a cold climate like this was uncomfortable for him. This only added to his uncertainty, as his body trembled with every tilt of his head.
Finally, our Council of Elders got to their feet to officially welcome the visitor. Each one approached the Avatar and gave their introduction, and showed him around the place. We followed him closely, almost hesitant to approach this all-powerful figure. From my angle, Roku tried to fit in, bowing and nodding at each elder around him, who offered to make his life more comfortable here. But I could tell that the more they tried, the more uncomfortable he became. He frequently adjusted his collar, and his hands were grabbing and squeezing various parts of his dark red tunic. Trying to sort through the chatter around me, I squeezed past several people as I moved closer to the Avatar.
But I didn't get a chance to speak to him at all, as the elders insisted that Roku must be tired after a long trip, and shuffled him off to his new chamber. There wasn't much left to see as the older monks shooed most of the younger ones away, either back into the temple or to other exterior areas for training or other exercises. "That wasn't too exciting," I commented, my lips pursing in an out-of-character way as I trudged inside.
I was known as the joker and the prankster among the young air benders, mainly because very little could get me down. But this was one of the exceptions, as I wasn't too impressed that the Avatar stayed out here for barely a minute, and didn't even bother to greet us when he arrived. It was partially understandable, as the elders were looking out for Roku's needs, given his journey and him being in a new environment. But still, it might be more useful had he been allowed to intermingle with the rest of us, which would give him more exposure to the air element. "Besides, we're supposed to be relaxed and free, so why did we become more rigid than the Avatar's home in the Fire Nation?" I openly questioned, comparing our carefree lifestyle to the strict rules of the Fire Nation.
I slowly marched back to the wing of the temple where my chamber was located. The living quarters were located at the lower parts of the temple, which was actually part of the bedrock of the mountain. This was to prevent the elements from getting in, and yet still had a way for us to reach the exterior, should any monk want to take a morning stroll or do some meditation. Bonding with nature was a big part of an air bender's life, and the older monks always taught us that respecting nature was a deep part of being an air bender. All life was sacred, and one must find the significance in every little living thing in order to bond with the world. Compared to many others, I was still quite young, so I had a long way to go before reaching full spirituality. Once that was done, I could do more advanced air bending techniques, and be recognized as an air bending master. The elders would then give me my tattoos, and I could openly wear the fruits of my labour.
Suddenly, I could hear the voices of the Council of Elders behind me as they entered the living quarters. My eyes were wide open as Avatar Roku marched in with them, nodding to their every detail as they completed the tour of the more important areas of the temple. He still had a bag in his hand, supposedly containing whatever essentials he was allowed to bring with him. "And this is where you'll be staying," they concluded, showing Roku the line of rooms before him. I could feel my jaw drop to the ground as an all-powerful Avatar was about to become my neighbour. How amazing was that?
Before long, the monks arrived at the right room, showing Roku where he would be staying for the next little while. I could only look on quietly, hoping the monks would go away soon so I could get a chance to speak with Roku. I knew that sooner or later, he would appear with us in the temple grounds, but I really wanted some one-on-one time with him just to understand what he was like. Personally, I saw the Avatar as a person who had to live the experience of walking in another person's shoes. Since I never had the chance to learn another element, it was a good way to bond with him.
After what seemed like an eternity, the elders finally left the room. They were on their way back to the main hall, leaving the living quarters unwatched, and giving me a chance to approach the Avatar's room. Pressing my back against the wall, I tilted my head and peeked into Roku's room. The dimness of the interior meant I could only see parts of Roku's face, but I could tell he was still hesitant. He was on his bed, his head slightly dipped over, as if in deep thought. His only package was lying on the ground, still untouched as Roku was almost in meditation. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the doorframe and gave it a couple of knocks. "Excuse me, Avatar?" I greeted him.
That seemed to have knocked Roku out of his trance as his head snapped up, his golden eyes shooting straight at the door and right at me. "I'm sorry, I didn't notice you were there," he stuttered, struggling off his bed, "do you live in this part of the temple?"
"Yeah, I do!" I responded enthusiastically. This was the perfect time to engage Roku in living with the Air Nomads, as I could get to know him personally, away from the public spotlight where he might feel alien to our culture. "It's so great to meet you! My room's down the hall, so we'll see each other a lot, Avatar Roku!"
Roku struggled to smile, but from that twitch on his shoulder I could tell he was a bit nervous. "I actually don't feel comfortable being addressed like that," he told me in a sheepish voice, "can you just call me Roku instead? I mean, if you insist on formality, it's fine to call me Avatar Roku, but I really prefer it if you dropped the title."
Now it was my turn to be surprised, as I never expected the Avatar to be that informal. I knew he was scared when entering the temple and during the tour, but at no point in time did I expect the Avatar to remove his title when being addressed. In fact, when the monks instructed us earlier, they told us that the Avatar was a person that was to be treated with utmost respect. "Roku," I gently stated, letting each syllable slide off my tongue, "I could call you that, I guess. It just seems weird, that's all."
Roku relaxed, his tense face loosening as a wide beam spread to his cheeks. "I just don't like the way everyone treats me like I'm extra special, that's all. Even with my duties, deep down I'm no different than you guys," he stated, "how do I address you?"
I smiled back at the fire bender, realizing that for the first time since his arrival, Roku was truly at ease with his surroundings. "My name is Gyatso." I replied. With that, we stood across from each other and bowed in our respective ways. We might have many different customs, but our path of understanding each other began today.
"So if everybody is ready, then follow me!" My air bending instructor, a cheerful monk with an undying sense of adventure announced. I had to admit that he was a great instructor, as he had the same attitude I had towards life in general: live every minute and enjoy every moment to its fullest. So for him to teach me the basics of air bending, it was always a blast. That being said, he didn't hesitate in getting strict if he had to, pointing out all errors and demanding us to fix them when he saw them.
Still, the relaxed atmosphere was nice, especially when I consider the fact that we had a new student join our class. Standing right next to me, in his brand new Air Nomad clothes, was the Avatar himself. Roku got started on his air bending training the day after his arrival. The monks told me despite the differences in bending style and philosophy, Roku finally understood and mastered the basic techniques and adopting the mindset of an air bender. Now, approximately a month after his arrival, Roku had been placed into an air glider class, and was assigned to be my partner when we took flight.
I took a side glance at Roku as we flipped open our gliders. I had to admit that we bonded quite well, becoming fast friends and even doing a lot of air bending practice together. Roku's words from the first day really resonated in my mind, as he was nothing more than a normal guy. Seeing him around my friends, enjoying life in the Air Temple and letting go of many of his preconceptions and truly understanding what it was like to be an Air Nomad, I felt Roku had really immersed himself into our culture.
Lining up at the edge, we prepared to take off, leaping from the cliff-like walls and sailing into the skies. Not only had Roku been respectful of our culture, he also had an insatiable appetite for striving to be the best, always challenging himself to be more proficient in manipulating the element. It provided quite a lot of friendly rivalry within my circle of friends, but especially with me, due to how close we had become. It was really refreshing to see how Roku would take the simplest techniques and challenged us to practice it with him, only to turn it into an all-out competition. Feeling the air around me as we floated in the sky, I could only wonder what Roku would come up with next.
Whatever trick he had in mind was revealed as Roku called to me. "Hey Gyatso, you want to see a new glider trick?" And immediately, he pulled his glider back, going high into the air before making two widely-arced back flips. As I tilted my head back, I could see a huge grin plastered on his face as he returned to level flying position.
But I wasn't about to be outdone, as I was determined to one-up the Avatar with whatever trick he pulled. This friendly rivalry was only inspiring me to come up with even more advanced air bending techniques, to the point where I could pass my final exam of mastering thirty-six skills and earned my tattoos. There was one that I had been thinking about ever since I was told I would get glider lessons, but it had never been tried before. Given that I was the type that didn't follow convention, I decided to let Roku see what this was all about. "Check this out," I replied, shouting over my shoulder.
Taking a deep breath, I flipped the glider around, turning my body to face the sun instead of hanging from below it. And in one smooth motion, I turned my body from a laid-back position to a standing one, balancing on the teetering glider while steering with my feet. This new trick, which I decided to dub "air surfing," wasn't the easiest thing for me. No one had even thought of manoeuvring a glider with their legs before. Even with my adventurous side on full blast, my heart pounded nonstop as I tried to negotiate the glider through the winds of these high altitudes. My friends would know that once my risk-taking side took over, there was no going back.
But the weather was not cooperating as a large gust of wind blew me off balance. My face numbed as my feet struggled to gain balance of the glider. But it was of no use as I slowly felt the staff loosen from my feet and drop into the cliff below. Suddenly, freefall became my new concern as I realized there was nothing stopping me from falling to my doom. As my arms and legs flailed about, I felt my fall being abruptly cut off as a glider zipped under me, causing me to plop onto the top frame. With my heart still doing hard taps against my sternum, I glanced down to see Roku gritting his teeth, trying to steer this now overweight and unbalanced glider.
Sensing the dangerous situation, I instantly laid flat on the top staff, making myself as streamline as possible. Our instructor told us before that flight was based on how air flowed past the glider, and anything that obstructed such flow might cause a crash. But even as I tried to prevent resistance, I could sense Roku fighting a losing battle. The glider dipped and tilted dangerously before tumbling down, spiralling out of control as we quickly lost altitude. The opposite wall of the Air Temple, with its thin ledge as our landing point, suddenly grew larger and larger as we screamed in fear.
The mad ride through the air finally came to an abrupt end as we slammed into the ground, right into a group of air bending students. Our instructor had taken the class onto the ground by now, and was about to give a briefing when he saw us rumble in. He didn't even have enough time to holler out or shoo the other monks out of the way when Roku and I sliced our way through them. What should have been injuries for two became injuries for many as the other kids ended up hitting the ground as we crash-landed, with many suffering cuts and bruises as we collided with them. I couldn't see exactly how or where they were hurt, but I could honestly say Roku and I weren't in the best shape.
By the time we picked ourselves off the ground, we could finally assess our injuries. There were several cuts on our clothes, and various parts of our bodies ached. I glanced over to Roku, who had trouble lifting his head, his neck so tight that tendons could be seen bulging. I guessed he probably pulled a muscle there, therefore placing him in a situation where he couldn't look up. His long hair draped down from his head, and I couldn't help but shoot another gentle breeze at him, blowing out the dark strands and getting a good look at him. "Are you alright?" I whispered.
Roku finally turned over. Despite the crash, he managed to eke out a smile, knowing that our rivalry had taken itself to a whole new level. We placed a hand on each other's shoulders, like congratulating each other on not only pulling off, but surviving a dangerous move like that. I guessed our teacher was probably going to march up to us, demanding to know why we did something that crazy. But to us, this was our friendship, and this was the way we bonded. For me, even a hundred crashes couldn't take that away.
"How do you know it's me?" Aang asked as he faced us nervously. It seemed like a case of déjà vu as the Council of Elders summoned Aang into our usual meeting room, the serene environment masking the seriousness of the situation. Per the agreement by the Council of Elders, we would bypass the custom of revealing the Avatar's identity at his or her sixteenth birthday, instead doing so right after Aang had mastered the air element.
And here was Aang, now twelve years old and one of the youngest air bending masters ever, seated before us as we revealed his identity to him. Comparing to those years back, Aang had grown a lot. While he still had that playfulness and curiosity in him, I also saw many traits that he gained throughout the years. Other than becoming taller and more muscular, Aang was more observant, taking things from the elements and absorbing this new knowledge. Also, Aang had a touch of creativity within him, as he always strove to experiment with new things. In fact, when we tested him on the thirty-six air bending techniques, he actually created one of his own called the air scooter. This new trick, which involved sitting on a ball of spinning air and using it to manoeuvre, was so amazing that most of the air bending instructors were astounded by its ingenuity. Even as I approached him earlier to request his presence, he was excitedly teaching this skill to other youngsters. It was truly a sight to admire.
"Do you remember these?" Tashi, in his spot to the left of Pasang, lifted a package into the air. Using an air thrust, he blew the parcel in Aang's direction, letting my favourite student take a good look at the items inside. As Aang marvelled over his favourite toys, Tashi continued, "You chose them from among thousands of toys, Aang. The toys you picked were the four Avatar relics," he pointed out.
As Aang giddily handled the Air Nomad fan, I decided to explain to him why we had to do this. Although I still had reservations regarding telling Aang of his identity this early, I slowly became more convinced that it might be alright to start letting go. Aang had, in my mind, a similar outlook towards life and bending to me, always willing to take risks and try something different. These traits were quite important for an Avatar, as a willingness to have an open mind and trying new things would be crucial in learning new elements quickly. Nevertheless, I described our procedure to him. "There are troubling signs. Storm clouds are gathering," I referred to the coming war with the Fire Nation, "we need you, Aang." I emphasized, realizing that our survival depended on this boy.
Aang's expression went from jubilance to hesitance. A confused look etched onto Aang's face as he chewed over the words. It was truly a big task, as a mountain of duties just buried the usually carefree youngster. I could somewhat understand his situation, as he wasn't used to having such a responsibility being thrown at him. Most air benders had attitudes that let us avoid problems before they began, similar to our bending style where the wind avoided direct attacks. Due to this, I had reservations letting Aang face a fierce foe that directly with little experience with the world's more serious affairs. Thinking of his needs, I hoped to raise the issue of how fast we should go about having him master all four elements. Could we slow it down and observe Aang's growth more carefully first?
Whatever ideas I had regarding that were cut short as Pasang spoke again. "The current situation makes it difficult for us to locate any bending instructors from the other nations, particularly the Fire Nation. But if we go according to the Avatar Cycle, the next element is water, and that means we must contact the Water Tribes immediately to see if any of their instructors are willing to accept Aang." Pasang turned to the other elders and told us that until a water bender was willing to meet with Aang, we must keep training Aang on air bending, in hopes that he could become even stronger.
By then, every opportunity I had to speak for Aang's needs disappeared as the other monks dismissed my student and headed out of the chambers themselves. Nothing seemed to be stopping them as they proceeded with their plan, with Aang's constant air bending training being the only thing their minds. I couldn't help but sigh, wondering what messes they would create. After all, I was friend with the last Avatar, and I wasn't too pleased that he died prematurely under such mysterious circumstances. Seeing Aang, being Roku's reincarnation, being forced to grow up quicker than anticipated, it caused me to have many mixed feelings. I knew the only way I could show him I cared was to free him, letting him explore the world on his own.
But still, even with that in mind, I felt the others really did go too far, as they never truly considered Aang's best interests at heart. Had anyone of them approached Aang and asked him how he felt? They all saw only the needs of the world, but had any of them placed themselves in Aang's shoes? While the war was one consideration, there were other factors regarding the Avatar's growth that ought to be included as well. I told the others before that an Avatar's full maturation was to involve an appreciation of the world, but could Aang truly do it in this state, with that much confusion and a relatively young mindset? Even as a fairly mature sixteen-year-old, Roku told me he had doubts about his abilities, and wondered why it had to be him. So how would Aang feel, going into this as a twelve-year-old?
Either way, I was going to fight for Aang's needs. I wasn't about to let the others run roughshod over him, and disregarded his personal growth. Even though I realized I had to let go some time soon, I was going to battle on until the time came. I had always been the defiant one, always going against the flow, and it was time that my famous rebel attitude returned. If it wasn't for me, then it had to be for the one I loved the most.
"This whole Avatar thing, maybe the monks made a mistake." Aang sighed, his body twisting and turning in impossible angles as he sat on the ledge looking down at the courtyard. It had only been days since we announced it to him, and already Aang was in considerable discomfort, concerned over its consequences. Earlier in the day, Aang met up with the rest of his friends again, opting to play a game using his new Air Scooter technique. But he was roundly turned down by the other children, who claimed that he had an unfair advantage being the Avatar. Rejected and alone, he hoped to find some company in pretty much the only person who still treated him normally.
And that was where we found ourselves, away from the rest of the air benders and baking some cakes using my special techniques. Even with my attention on the oven more than on Aang, I could tell the significant change in him. Instead of his usual bouncy and cheerful self, Aang sat with a hunched back, his head near his knees as his hands were clasped before his shins. Nevertheless, there wasn't much we could do about it for now. The Council of Elders had made their decision, and all I could do was to make life as comfortable for Aang as possible. "The only mistake they made was telling you before you turned sixteen," I explained, "but we can't concern ourselves with what was, we must act on what is." With that, I waved at the scene before us.
Indeed, the beautiful surroundings reminded us of why we were here, and what we could appreciate while we were still alive. The Sky Bison hovering around us, the magnificent towers of the Air Temple, the sounds of young air benders playing, and the smells of nature all around. Perhaps by reminding Aang that it was because he was the Avatar that he must be tied to air bending, it would lift his spirits. In my mind, it was possible for an Avatar to serve the world while connecting with his roots, and I sure hoped Aang would do that should he begin his journey.
But it didn't succeed, as Aang continued to doubt himself. "But Gyatso, how do I know if I'm ready for this?" he asked, still reluctant to accept the revelations.
"Your questions will be answered when you're old enough to enter the Air Temple Sanctuary. Inside, you will meet someone who will guide you on your journey." I responded, trying again to ease his nerves. The Air Temple Sanctuary was one area where all Avatars of Air Nomad descent must enter whenever they reached maturity. It was an Avatar's responsibility to connect with the Spirit World, where the spirits of Avatars past were located. Realizing that Aang must go through that process one day, I could only imagine the questions he would have when he encountered Roku.
That seemed to have lifted Aang's spirits a little, as he seemed eager to learn more of his special identity. Sensing an opportunity to make him happy again, I turned to him with a mischievous smirk. "Now, are you going to help me with these cakes?" I asked.
That got Aang smiling as well, as he lifted himself off the rails and stood next to me. This was one of our more unusual methods in practicing air bending, but it was a great exercise in testing both strength and accuracy. Given that we had to hit a series of targets located in a small area far away from us, it would be a difficult test for most other air benders. But for Aang and me, it wouldn't even be an issue. Getting into position, we counted to three, creating a ball of air each and hurling it at the railing.
Like we had done it every day of our lives, our air balls threw the cakes I baked into the air, sending them across the skies and to the temple's lower levels. We leaned over the rails, following the cakes in the air as neither dough nor icing fell off from the bases. As they made their descent onto the meditation area below, I could make out the bodies of the other four members of the Council of Elders, all of whom gathered under the large trees meditating together. While meditation was an important exercise for all air benders, and I certainly encouraged it with Aang as well, I couldn't figure out why the elders, despite all their wisdom, chose the same gathering spot every single time. There was no challenge to this trick anymore, as they just made themselves too easy a target for Aang and I to hit. "It's going to drop on them," Aang anticipated excitedly.
And just to our expectations, the cakes landed perfectly on the targets, with one slamming onto each elder's head. Icing and dough dripped onto their robes, causing their moans of disgust to echo off the temple's walls. The comical situation was accentuated when lemurs that called our temple home flocked to them, climbing all over the foursome as they licked the food off their clothing. From our position at the top, we couldn't stop laughing. "We did it again, Gyatso!" Aang declared, laughing for the first time in days.
Aang turned back to face me, the biggest smile on his face as he bowed down low. "Your aim has improved greatly, my young pupil," I complimented him, giving him a pat on the head. Deep down, I knew that these were the moments I would miss the most should Aang be sent away. And knowing Aang, he was probably more focused on these things rather than training. Perhaps there was still time to get him more prepared for the dangers in the journey ahead? Either way, Aang still required the guidance of those close to him, and I was willing to offer that for as long as he wished.
"Aang ought to have freedom and fun. He must grow up as a normal boy." I stated my case before Pasang. I thought things were returning to normal, with Aang still getting frequent training in air bending, but balanced well with leisure, the latter of the two being offered mainly by me. It seemed like a good way to keep a level of normality for Aang as I constantly communicated with the other monks, hoping there was some news on training Aang on other bending techniques. Should there be anything new, I would inform Aang to make whatever change proceed as smoothly as possible.
Apparently, that touched a nerve with some of the other elders, especially Tashi, the so-called grumpy one. Even when we first confirmed Aang's identity, he was for a quicker transition of training methods, insisting that we moved Aang to water bending as soon as possible. When I was playing a game of Pai Sho with Aang earlier, he disturbed our match by insisting that we should be training even more vigorously. While his goal was understood, I made sure Tashi knew that as long as I was in charge of Aang, I would decide when he trained and when he got his butt kicked at Pai Sho. Tashi then left in a huff, but nowhere in my mind did I expect him to approach Pasang with this issue.
"You cannot keep protecting Aang from his destiny," Tashi's smug tone sliced through the air, bringing me back to the current situation. Pasang was eyeing both of us with a concerned face, probably thinking of a compromise again as Tashi needled me repeatedly. Somehow, despite the calm appearance, Pasang realized how firm Tashi and I held onto our positions, and that left him very little room to compromise.
After an agonizing few seconds, which stretched into an eternity when considered with the complete silence in our chamber, Pasang finally caved in. "Gyatso, I know you mean well, but you are letting your affection for the boy cloud your judgment," he stated. With that remark, I knew that Pasang was about to side with Tashi.
But knowing Pasang's understanding nature and willingness to compromise, I had to keep pushing my point. Whenever there was an important issue to discuss, I had found Pasang was always willing to entertain another opinion, sometimes incorporating the new ideas into his conclusion. Perhaps he was willing to listen once more? "All I want is what is best for him," I firmly responded, hoping Pasang would understand Aang's needs.
Whatever hope I had left faded as Pasang responded by claiming that we must do what was best for the world. My shoulders sagged as Pasang dipped his head, a new thought process slowly emerging as he described his idea. It would be the biggest blow to my career not just as an air bender, but as a person. "You and Aang must be separated," Pasang ordered, "the Avatar will be sent away to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training. My decision on this is final."
My mouth dropped involuntarily, my face frozen as Pasang's words slammed into me like a hurricane. Not in a million years had I imagined my idea of meeting Aang's needs be so roundly rejected. It wasn't as if he merely told me it was a secondary concern; rather, Pasang basically decided that Aang's needs were a distraction to his Avatar training, and even insisted that I removed myself from the picture. How could he do this? After all the years in which we knew each other, Pasang had to realize that I was doing it with Aang's best interests at heart, right? What possible justification did Pasang have to send Aang away, even though it would deprive him of friendship and love, the two things he needed the most for his growth? I wasn't discounting the coming conflict with the Fire Nation, but did Pasang believe forcing a twelve-year-old into the fray was the best solution?
Nonetheless, I realized that in this battle, I was about to go it alone. Bowing to Pasang, I excused myself from the chamber. As I marched through the hallways of the temple, I mulled over my entire life experience, not only with Aang, but also with the Avatar. Roku, Aang's predecessor, grew a close bond with me mainly because I was the first person to address him as a normal being. I recalled how uncomfortable Roku was with the new-found fame, and how he longed for his normal life at home in the Fire Nation. It took a lot of coaxing and encouragement in order to get Roku to start making progress on air bending, and even then most of his peers treated him as a living deity. I was one of a few air benders who truly saw Roku for who he was, and by appealing to his non-Avatar side, we managed to bring out the best in each other.
And with Aang, I saw a similar situation, as Aang strove to be normal in a world where the Avatar was needed more than ever. Aang was already rejected by his peers, almost in a fearful way, when his identity was announced. Already without friends, it would be an even bigger shock for him should he be isolated from all those that he knew and loved. If Roku had difficulty handling it at age sixteen, think about how hard it was for Aang at age twelve! It was not fair for Aang to be shoved into the world like this, especially when his knowledge of other cultures was so limited. And being his guardian, it wasn't right for me to just stay put and do nothing, even if he was the Avatar and would have to face the challenges of the world anyway. My job was to make this journey as meaningful as possible, and in my mind, it was not realistic to rush Aang through.
Stopping in the middle of the hall, I stood with a straight back and lifted an arm to chest level. "I won't let them take Aang away from me." I decided, clenching my hand into a fist. Even if the odds were against me, I was going to fight this decision to the end. The Avatar had to save the world, but there was no way he could do it in this current state and mindset. And if the Avatar needed saving, then I was willing to be his hero.
"We have to prepare immediately. This huge Fire Nation armada is out at the bay, and they're attacking any day now!" Our search team lead exclaimed as the elders around me fell into a state of panic. It had been days since Pasang decided on separating Aang and me, and things had not gone well at the Southern Air Temple. While the other elders busily communicated with the Water Tribes in any way possible, I went over how I could still have Aang stay here, and what I could do to convince Aang of my intentions.
But I would never get a chance to do that, as on that very evening, I sneaked into Aang's bedroom. I already decided that I would not only fight for Aang's rights to stay, but also for his choice of life. But when I opened the door, I could see that the room was completely empty. The only thing left for us was a note, as Aang took everything he held dear with him, including his staff and Appa, his Sky Bison. By sunrise, the Council of Elders met already. Even with the sheer impact of the incident, there was, rightly so, no assignment of blame on myself or any other air bender. A search party was organized and sent out, in hopes of locating Aang before anything happened to him.
But it was not Aang that would be subject to a bad event; rather, it was the temple itself, as a Fire Nation armada was ploughing at us at full speed. Apparently, we had been underestimating the Fire Lord, not expecting that not only was his military ready, but it was already deployed and heading straight for our shores. Our search team lead told us that several volleys of fire confirmed their aggressive intentions, and they were all lucky to have made it back with only minor injuries. But according to the reports, the sheer size of this armada was a cause for concern. "We have to keep everyone, especially the young and the ill, inside the temple." Pasang ordered. Despite being a peaceful nation with no standing military, we had relatively well-prepped defences, and were prepared to take a stand against the Fire Nation. There was no doubt we were in for the fight of our lives.
Within hours, the evacuation order was in full force. There was sheer chaos as air benders young and old gathered at the edges of the temple, ready to defend our home. Children were escorted inside, placed into safe places away from potential battlegrounds. Just like the wind, typical Air Nomad defence strategies was to be evasive and defensive, always trying to avoid the conflict and not attacking the invader head-on. But with the huge army marching its way toward us, I wasn't sure how long we could keep avoiding.
We soon found out the hard way how much trouble we were in when mechanical sounds echoed through the rocky cliffs below. Those of us brave enough to investigate this unfamiliar sound dipped their heads over the cliff. Even standing a few steps back, I managed to edge quite close to the edge, letting my eyes soak in the misty clouds draping around the rocks below. Even though it was a sight I had seen every day of my life, I had to say this time it was making me nervous, as accentuated by the ominous silence.
But the mood was soon snapped in the most violent way possible, as a series of metallic objects sliced their way through the clouds and slamming into the sides of the cliffs. The entire foundation of our temple shook as the rumbling became louder than ever, almost like there was a powerful machine cutting through the rocks. As we tried to regain balance, a series of fireballs blasted their way upward, scorching the entire place and slamming into the open area. "The Fire Nation troops are attacking. We must put out the fires!" Pasang shouted, pointing to several areas lighting up in bright orange.
Immediately, air benders swirled the wind above us, trying to use its chill to put out the flames. Another group aimed their air downward, hoping to use an air slice to knock the tanks back. But it was to no avail as the machines crept their way to the level of the temple, their cannons firing at full-strength as many of those on the frontlines were either burned or ran over. As I alternated between the sight of the smouldering temple and the sounds of monks screaming as they got hit, it was evident to me what the Fire Nation's purpose was: they were shooting to kill, and planned on taking no prisoners. "It's no longer safe here," I declared, "should we make a retreat?"
Pasang nodded, and immediately signalled everyone back into the temple, where it was supposedly safer. The Council of Elders tried to hold the Fire Nation military off, but to little avail as more tanks made their way onto the summit. Their cannons were still blazing, with a wall of fire surrounding us all. The smoke from each fire mixed with the clouds, creating a strange eclipse around the sun. Amidst the darkness, the pungent smell and sounds of people choking and wheezing, I had to help as many of the air benders back into the temple as possible. "Hurry," I shouted, pulling a couple of younger monks back as I shielded my face. The smoke's nauseating smell was slicing into my nostrils, and the fumes' heavier than air trait made it more difficult to bend away.
But the scene soon descended into chaos as the infantry finally made their way up the mountain, a series of fireballs coming out from a synchronized sequence of punches and kicks by the Fire Nation foot soldiers. Screams of terror was soon replaced by groans of pain as several people fell, their bodies a simmering wreck as the fire benders launched their full-scale assault. I couldn't even see if everyone had made it back, nor could I see how many of our monks were killed. All I thought about was the welfare of the young ones as I hurried through the halls, hoping they were in safer areas, away from the fight.
Yet I couldn't even take one step into the deeper parts of the temple, as the fire raging from the outside proved too much for our doors to handle. Soon, helmeted men in dark red uniforms raced through our halls, chanting their battle cries as they rampaged through every room. Even from my position away from them, I could see the doorway of each chamber light up, cries of agony echoing through the halls as the Fire Nation tore up everything and killed everyone in sight. This wasn't just a war they were involved in, it was genocide. "I must do something to distract them from the kids," I muttered.
Getting into position, I gathered all the air I could from around me and shot it down the hall, right in the direction of the Fire Nation troops. This would probably set them all chasing after me, but knowing my skills in air bending and evasive manoeuvres, I could probably handle it. All my years living as a daredevil meant this was nothing more than a new challenge for me, and I knew I was ready to tackle it head on. Besides, the children were the most important thing, as I had to get the troops away from them.
Luckily for me, I was soon joined at this hallway by several air benders, all of whom wielded their staffs as they held off the Fire Nation troops. That gave me just enough time to dash off to check on the youngsters. I was about to reach the bottom of the temple, just outside of the innermost chamber when a series of Fire Nation troops arrived. "Freeze, old man," they barked, "Tell us where the Avatar is hiding!"
My eyes tilted back and forth, trying to find an escape route. If I stood my ground here, it would pretty much give away the fact that there were children in the other room. And if I ran back up the way I came, I would sandwich myself and the other air benders between two Fire Nation battalions. Even though I had faith in the others in beating the fire benders back, the risk was too great. Glancing to the side, I saw an exit to the back, where the Sky Bison pens were held. Based on the smells from that direction, I could tell the fire benders probably scorched the place as well, leaving who knew how many Sky Bison dead. My hands balled into fists as I imagined the merciless killings that occurred. How could these people have such a disregard for all living things?
Turning back to the helmeted team, I took a deep breath and calmed my mind. Even if I had to fight them, I had to do it in a wise way that limited damage to our people. "You won't get the Avatar here," I responded slowly, "the Avatar is gone. You will not find what you seek here, so please stop the senseless killings immediately."
That only got the leader of this battalion seething with anger. "You're lying!" He roared, sending a jet of flames my way. Just as the orange wall collapsed in on me, I spun around and threw myself at the opening, all the while shooting streams of air at the fire benders. I could see those standing at the front stagger back, but quickly got back to their positions as I hurried out the door. There wasn't much room for me to run, as I realized sooner or later, I had to stand my ground and fight the Fire Nation.
Flames engulfed the bison pens as I barged through, not even bothering to check the welfare of the animals as I tried to pull the troops away from the interior. I scanned around the area, trying to find a spot for me to go as the battalion hustled out from inside. More fire shot out from the soldiers as they pursued me with great ferocity. "You can't run anymore," the team leader taunted, "we have the power of the comet, which will be near our world for the next few days. We already attacked the Western Air Temple, and took out everybody inside. You might as well stop lying to us and give us the Avatar, because we're not afraid to use our enhanced fire bending powers right now."
My heart skipped a beat at the announcement, as I realized why it became so hard to defeat them. Skill-wise, I had to say that most air benders were of equal strength, but the Southern Air Temple had a relative edge in terms of technique and experience. But even the most skilled air benders had difficulty defeating the Fire Nation, which meant whatever this comet was doing to their powers, it had an impact. Waving my arms in a circular motion, I whipped up as much wind as possible, sending them to the battalion's direction. "Then feel free to kill me, for I am ready to defend my people." I replied.
Barely seconds passed when the first line of troops marched forward to me, a line of fireballs heading my way. Despite the smoke covering the area, making the air quite impure for bending, I still managed to get enough to bat the flames down. I stared around me and saw that I was surrounded by Fire Nation troops, meaning my chances of getting out alive were very slim. A limited area for manoeuvring, along with thick smoke that prevented access to purer air for bending purposes placed me at a disadvantage. Still, I soldiered on, getting into a defensive stance to field another round of attacks.
There would be no time to react as a hail of fire rained down on me. I wheeled around furiously, whipping up a small vortex around me to deflect the fire balls away. Even with this more advanced air bending skill, I could still feel several flames fall through the cracks, scorching my clothing and the ground underneath. With various parts of my body zinged by fire, immense pain soon took over, making it more difficult to move. By the time the barrage ended, I could barely stand, my legs wobbling in fatigue.
Sensing that the Fire Nation troops weren't about to let up, I had to go on the offensive. The Air Nomad philosophy was to avoid conflict and respect all life, but in air bending, there were rarely-used techniques that allowed us to damage opponents. Taking a deep breath, I stretched out my arms and, gathering some air, swept them across the Fire Nation formation. The winds rippled down at the way and slammed into the soldiers, knocking several off their feet and tumbling backwards. Staying with my momentum, I spun around and blew at the troops on the other side of the formation, letting out a huge stream of air from my mouth to push back those troops. Hopefully, this gave me a bit more room to move, allowing me to drag my injured body to a safer place.
But there was no time to do so, as the battalion leader took action on me. From my strained vision, I could see him wheel his arms around and charging up a huge plume of fire. I struggled to maintain balance, circling my arms to create an air shield just as the leader spun around and unleashed the flames. The next few moments played out in slow motion as my hastily-made shield soon broke down, the air no match for the raging fire lumbering towards me. Before long, a searing amount of heat coursed through my body, my skin and clothing crumpling in flames as numbness soon overtook me. With nothing more than orange surrounding my every side, I soon found myself collapsing to the ground, unable to move even though I still had some senses working.
I could barely make out the blurred image of the battalion leader cruelly strutting up to me, his words nothing but slurs as he pointed his troops to various places. I knew, at this current situation, my time was probably up. My home was about to be destroyed, and probably all its inhabitants were about to die. Everything I cherished, from the natural beauty of the environment, to the laughter of young air benders playing, even to the Sky Bison pens, all that was about to be wiped out. In my mind, I could only wonder what brought this type of destruction about, and what made the Fire Nation behave this way.
As each soldier's boots clopped away from me, my mind could only wander back to my number one concern: Aang. I had no idea where he was, and what went through his mind when he left. I knew that the Council of Elders, with their decision to split us up, truly scared him, and maybe it was the unclear vision that drove him to run away. In any case, I could only hope that he reached safety, away from this destruction and mayhem. Aang was the only hope now, for the other air temples, should they survive the attacks, and the rest of the world. I could only hope that he could find the teachers required so he could learn the other elements and stopped the Fire Nation in time. I shuddered to think what the world would be in for if Aang failed. As the last men left, the battalion leader muttered to me, "Since you're of no use to us, why don't we put you out of your misery."
With that, he reeled back and charged up a fire ball with his fist. This short-range attack, similar to an explosive, was meant to do ultimate damage to a close-up opponent. For my case, that meant ending my life. As the fire fist came closer to my face, the bright sphere dominating my line of vision, only one thought formed in my head:
My name is Gyatso. That was my story. Those were my rites of passage.
While most details on the slightly violent final battle was based on the traits of each bending type as envisioned by Mike and Bryan, I also included actual traits of air as considerations for the fight. For example, smoke, which consisted of carbon dioxide, was heavier than regular air That meant Gyatso, in a weaker state, would have trouble bending a heavier type of air. Please give me your comments on what you think, and if I'm not as busy, maybe I'll be able to post more often. No guarantees, but I'll try my best.